Organization of the Alpine countries ski associations
The Organization of the Alpine Countries Ski Associations ( French Organization des fédérations de ski des pays alpins , short: OPA ) is an organization of ten Central and Southern European ski associations which, in cooperation with the Fédération Internationale de Ski and the national ski associations, organize competitions / competition series in winter sports aligns. The most important competition series is the cross-country skiing OPA Cup (Alpine Cup) , which is held as the FIS Continental Cup for OPA members and thus the most important competition series after the cross-country skiing world cup .
Member associations
The OPA currently has ten member associations, all of which except Spain belong to the Alpine region .
| Abbreviation | country | Association | Association abbreviation | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT |
 Austria
|
Austrian Ski Association | ÖSV | innsbruck |
| FRA |
 France
|
Fédération Française de Ski | FFS | Annecy |
| GER |
 Germany
|
German Ski Association | DSV | Planegg |
| ITA |
 Italy
|
Federazione Italiana Sport Invernali | FISI | Milan |
| LIE |
 Liechtenstein
|
Liechtenstein Ski Association | LSV | Schaan |
| SLO |
 Slovenia
|
Smučarska zveza Slovenije | SZS | Ljubljana |
| SPA |
 Spain
|
Real Federacion Española Deportes de Invierno | RFEDI | Madrid |
| SUI |
 Switzerland
|
Swiss ski | Muri near Bern | |
| AND | Andorra | Federacion Andorrana Esqui | FAE | Andorra |
| CZE | Czech Republic | Czech Ski | Prague |
OPA events
The OPA organizes a series of competitions / competition series mainly for the youth and junior sector. The primary goal is to prepare young athletes for the next level of competition. The OPA events can only be organized by member associations. Athletes from the OPA member associations are eligible to participate - usually in unlimited numbers.
Cross-country Alpine Cup
The cross-country skiing OPA Cup, also known as the OPA-FIS-Continentalcup Cross-Country (OPA-Coupe Continentale FIS de Ski de Fond) and occasionally also called the Alpine Cup, but not to be confused with the Youth Alpine Cup, is part of the FIS Continental Cup series. These are the second highest competition series in cross-country skiing after the World Cup. Since the 2004/05 season, individual Continental Cups have been held and awarded for nine regions around the world. Cross-country skiers from all FIS affiliated ski associations are eligible to participate in the OPA Cup, but only athletes from the member associations can collect points in these competitions, on the basis of which the overall winner of the OPA Cup is determined at the end of the season. Points are awarded according to the FIS point system , which is also used in the World Cup. In contrast to the World Cup, the three worst results can be deleted from the overall standings if more than twelve competitions are held in a season. The competitions are held in the senior sector and U20 for women and men. A distinction is also made between senior citizens and U20s in the overall ratings, which are also determined for the distance and sprint disciplines and the best nation, as in the World Cup. The overall winners each receive medals. The winners of the OPA Cup have the right to start in the first competition period in the World Cup next season. Even during the current season, the athletes currently leading in the OPA Cup have the right to start a new competition period in the World Cup.
Alpencup cross-country skiing youth
The Alpencup cross-country skiing youth is a competition series for the U18 area. Similar to the Continental Cup, points are also awarded here in every competition, on the basis of which the overall winners for girls and boys are determined at the end of the season, who are rewarded with prizes. Similar to the OPA Continental Cup, cross-country skiers from all FIS affiliated ski associations are also eligible to compete in the Alpencup, but only the athletes from the member associations fight for overall victory in the Alpencup.
Cup Kurikkala Cross-Country (Coupe Kurikkala)
The Kurikkala Cup was first held as a junior cross-country skiing competition for the U18 and U20 age groups in 1974 and was revised in 1984. The competitions for the Kurikkala Cup are held once a year, according to a set cycle, in a different OPA ski association. The results of the individual competitions are converted into points, with the FIS point system converting the time delays into points. 0 points are awarded for the winning time. The Cup Kurikkala trophy, donated by the French Ski Association, will be presented for one year to the OPA ski association that has the lowest total number of points with its team.
Alpencup ski jumping / Nordic combined (Alpencup saut à ski / Combiné nordique)
The Alpine Cup ski jumping / Nordic combined was first held in 1977. It includes competitions in the junior area (U20) for ski jumping and Nordic combined . The 1st period in the Alpine Cup takes place in summer. The 2nd period in the Alpine Cup is the winter competitions. The overall winners will be determined at the end of the 2nd period. The starting quota for OPA member associations is 15 in ski jumping and 18 in Nordic combined.
Nordic skiing games of the OPA (Jeux nordiques de l'OPA)
The annual Nordic ski games were held in their current form for the first time in the 1985/86 competition season. Athletes of the age groups U16 (schoolchildren) and U18 (youth) of the OPA member associations are allowed to compete in the cross-country skiing , ski jumping and Nordic combined sports . Due to the high standard of performance of the field of participants, the Nordic Ski Games have a high sporting value as a competition for young talent. In ski jumping and Nordic combined, 6 starters per nation are allowed to start (2 more for the host nation), the field of participants in cross-country skiing is unlimited.
In addition to the individual ratings, a cross-sport nation rating is determined. The winner receives a challenge cup, which was donated in 1986 by the then Yugoslav Ski Association.